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Learner engagement within MOOCs: Scale adaptation and an exploration regarding gender
Abstract
With the COVID-19 outbreak, now more than ever, minimizing human interaction and social distancing are of great importance. Since anyone is obligated to study remotely, attention to distance learning systems, specifically to massive online open courses (MOOCs), has exponentially risen. The present study aimed to adapt and validate the MOOC Engagement Scale (MES), developed by Deng et al. (2020a), into Turkish based on data collected from 258 participants in Türkiye enrolled in various MOOC courses to enhance their skills for future career development. The results indicated that the MES has adequate evidence of internal consistency reliability (ranging between .68 and .90) and factorial, discriminant, and convergent validity. Confirmatory factor analysis results supported the four-factor structure of the MES (i.e., behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and social). The MANOVA results indicated a statistically significant difference in MOOC engagement between genders, where males scored higher than females. The findings provided evidence that the Turkish MES has promising validity and reliability properties; therefore, it can be used to measure learner engagement in MOOCs.
Keywords
- Distance learning
- Massive open online course
- Learner engagement
- MOOC engagement scale
- Scale adaptation
- Scale validation
Ethical Statement
The Social and Humanity Sciences Ethical Committee at Akdeniz University granted approval for the study on March 26, 2024, under the reference number 886065.
References
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- Barba, P. D., Kennedy, G. E., & Ainley, M. D. (2016). The role of students’ motivation and participation in predicting performance in a MOOC motivation and participation in MOOCs. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 32, 218–231. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12130
- Barghaus, K. M., Henderson, C. M., Fantuzzo, J. W., Brumley, B., Coe, K., LeBoeuf, W. A., & Weiss, E. M. (2021). Classroom engagement scale: Validation of a teacher-report assessment used to scale in the kindergarten report card of a large urban school district. Early Education and Development, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2021.1985047
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Cross-Cultural Scale Adaptation, Instructional Technologies, Informal Learning, Educational Technology and Computing
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
July 31, 2025
Submission Date
January 27, 2025
Acceptance Date
May 12, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Number: 75
APA
Yasan Ak, N., & Arpacı, İ. (2025). Learner engagement within MOOCs: Scale adaptation and an exploration regarding gender. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, 75, 247-264. https://doi.org/10.21764/maeuefd.1627718
AMA
1.Yasan Ak N, Arpacı İ. Learner engagement within MOOCs: Scale adaptation and an exploration regarding gender. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty. 2025;(75):247-264. doi:10.21764/maeuefd.1627718
Chicago
Yasan Ak, Nehir, and İbrahim Arpacı. 2025. “Learner Engagement Within MOOCs: Scale Adaptation and an Exploration Regarding Gender”. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, nos. 75: 247-64. https://doi.org/10.21764/maeuefd.1627718.
EndNote
Yasan Ak N, Arpacı İ (July 1, 2025) Learner engagement within MOOCs: Scale adaptation and an exploration regarding gender. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty 75 247–264.
IEEE
[1]N. Yasan Ak and İ. Arpacı, “Learner engagement within MOOCs: Scale adaptation and an exploration regarding gender”, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, no. 75, pp. 247–264, July 2025, doi: 10.21764/maeuefd.1627718.
ISNAD
Yasan Ak, Nehir - Arpacı, İbrahim. “Learner Engagement Within MOOCs: Scale Adaptation and an Exploration Regarding Gender”. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty. 75 (July 1, 2025): 247-264. https://doi.org/10.21764/maeuefd.1627718.
JAMA
1.Yasan Ak N, Arpacı İ. Learner engagement within MOOCs: Scale adaptation and an exploration regarding gender. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty. 2025;:247–264.
MLA
Yasan Ak, Nehir, and İbrahim Arpacı. “Learner Engagement Within MOOCs: Scale Adaptation and an Exploration Regarding Gender”. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, no. 75, July 2025, pp. 247-64, doi:10.21764/maeuefd.1627718.
Vancouver
1.Nehir Yasan Ak, İbrahim Arpacı. Learner engagement within MOOCs: Scale adaptation and an exploration regarding gender. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty. 2025 Jul. 1;(75):247-64. doi:10.21764/maeuefd.1627718